(This Article appeared in the December 15, 1986 edition of the UM-St. Louis Staff Association Pilot Newsletter.)

When John P. Perry reported for his day of work as an examiner in the Auditor's Office of the University of Missouri on February 1, 1947, he unknowingly started a career that was to span 39 years at the University. His working lifetime has seen many changes including the birth of a brand new campus here in St. Louis.

Prior to his appointment as Business Officer for the fledgling UMSL campus in 1963, Perry was Assistant to the Auditor, Assistant Comptroller, Assistant to the Director of the University Hospital, and Associate Director of the University of Missouri Medical Center.

In 1974, during a restructuring of the campus, former Chancellor Arnold Grobman named him Vice Chancellor for Administrative Services. It is as Vice Chancellor that many of us have known and worked with him.

John Perry has roots in Columbia, Missouri and was graduated from the University of Missouri in Business Administration in 1947. He also holds a MS in Hospital Administration from Northwestern University which he obtained in 1960 while on a sabbatical leave from the University. From 1942 to 1946, Perry was a member of the Field Artillery as a First Lieutenant.

Perry's private life includes Verna, his wife of 43 years, sons Martin and David, grandsons Michael and Andrew, a retreat in the Ozarks and a woodworking bench in his Creve Coeur home where he pursues his hobby. Martin is an AT&T economist holding a Ph.D. degree from Stanford, and David, a University of Missouri graduate, is an accountant in St. Louis.

In a letter to the Chancellor, Perry said: "Even though it is time, it is not easy to retire from the best job in the University. My service with the University has been most rewarding, particularly being involved in the development of this campus. How could I have been so fortunate?"

Perry will continue to serve the campus as a special consultant for 2 years. The campus is fortunate to have this dedicated individual spending some of his retirements years with us.